Ukraine has decisively moved toward the West. Previously pulled between East and West, Ukrainians are now more united on key issues that had previously rankled the country for decades. More Ukrainians want educational instruction in Ukrainian, greater numbers prefer EU and NATO membership, and support for democracy far outstrips support for a strongman.
At the same time, the ongoing war waged by Russia and Kremlin-backed separatists has added new fault lines, and these divides will likely be exploited by politicians in the lead up to the 2019 presidential and parliamentary elections. Rather than harping on the East-West divide and language, NATO membership and the future of Ukraine’s conflict-torn East are likely to be wedge issues in future elections.
